Michael DeMocker/The Times-PicayuneNew Orleans Hornets center Emeka Okafor slams a Chris Paul miss to put the Hornets ahead for good in their home opener Friday night at the New Orleans Arena.The New Orleans Hornets struggled for most of Friday night but in the waning moments of the fourth quarter Chris Paul, Emeka Okafor and Julian Wright each made big plays to lead the Hornets to a 97-92 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The win at the New Orleans Arena evened the Hornets' record at 1-1 and dropped the Kings to 0-2.

Paul led the Hornets with 31 points and Okafor, in his first appearance at the Arena, had 11 points, 13 rebounds and a key block in the final minute that helped the Hornets secure the win. Wright scored 11 points and made a big block at the end of the game. All-Star David West had a low key night with 13 points on 5 of 12 shooting.

Sacramento was led by outstanding rookie Tyreke Evans,who at 6 feet 6, caused Paul all kinds of trouble on the defensive end, He finished with 22 points and backcourt mate Kevin Martin added 20.

While Hornets Coach Byron Scott was pleased with the win, he thought his team got whipped in rebounding (Kings 52, Hornets 43).

"They were more physical, more aggressive," Scott said. "They were going at it, going after it, our guys were watching the birds."

Scott said Okafor, the team's biggest offseason acquisition, played well despite still not being in top shape after missing all of training camp with a sprained toe.

"He gives us a different element down there, throw him the ball and let him post up," Scott said. "Once he gets in top shape he could be a monster."

He had a monster impact on the final minute, scoring on a putback dunk to make it 93-91 Hornets and then blocking Martin's shot with 7.6 seconds left.

"Two big plays that had a big-time impact on the game," Scott said.

The Hornets' next game is Sunday at the Boston Celtics, who are just one year removed from winning the NBA title.

FOURTH QUARTER

Chris Paul converted an old fashioned three-point play to tie the score at 91 with 1:16 to play.

Sacramento rookie point guard Tyreke Evans scored five consecutive points as the Kings took a 89-88 lead over the New Orleans Hornets with 2:22 to play. Chris Paul and Evans have been going one-on-one most of the night.

Chris Paul just picked up his fourth foul trying to guard Sacramento's Tyreke Evans. The score is tied at 82 with 5:23 to play.

Hornets Coach Byron Scott just inserted stars Chris Paul and David West into the lineup with 6:42 to play as he prepares to make the team's final push for victory.

Veterans Peja Stojakovic, James Posey and Darius Songaila hit baskets to help the Hornets pull into a 77-77 tie with 8:59 to play. After only scoring four points in the Hornets' season-opening loss to the Spurs, Stojakovic already has 10 points Friday night.

THIRD QUARTER

A 3-pointer by Chris Paul with a second to play in the period made it 75-72 Sacramento. The Kings seemed to get every rebound and loose ball as they played with more energy than the Hornets.

A three-point by Emeka Okafor, a 3-pointer by Morris Peterson and a couple of jumpers helped the Hornets close the gap on the Kings but they still trail 70-65 with 4:09 to play in the period. The Hornets were getting frustrated by several non-calls but seemed to use that to increase their intensity.

The Kings have outscored the Hornets 7-1 to take a 57-51 lead with 9:59 left in the period. Hornets star guard Chris Paul picked up his third foul while guarding Tyreke Evans, who at 6 feet 6 is a tough cover for Paul.

SECOND QUARTER

A botched rebound attempt off a missed free throw in the closing seconds of the first half pretty much summed it up for the New Orleans Hornets, which is tied with Sacramento 50-40 at haltime.

At times, New Orleans appears to be ready to assume control of the game. At others, they appear slow and not into the game.

The most excitement so far is Southern University's halftime show.

OK, we shouldn't be too hard on the teams. They've been efficient, if not exciting. They are evenly matched so far, which isn't good news for the Hornets.

Still, New Orleans is playing better than they did against San Antonio on Wednesday, a game that saw the bench get blasted by the Spurs. Peja Stojakovic, James Posey and Hilton Armstrong have combined to score 14 off the bench in the first half, a far cry from the zero the bench posted in the first half on Wednesday.

The Hornets are led by the usual suspects at the half, Chris Paul with 11 and David West with 10.

Sacramento is led by Andres Nocioni with 11 and Kenyon Martin has nine.

Both teams shot 44 percent in the first half.

(West comes in, but game is tied, 1:15 2Q)

Hornets forward David West, who played more than 40 minutes in the season opener, got a lengthy rest early. He came back into the game with 4:39 remaining in the second quarter after playing all of the first.

West's return seemed to give the Hornets a spark, but just as it appeared they might start to pull ahead, Sacramento came back and tied it up at 49.

(Hornets take the lead, 5:59 2Q)

Emeka Okafor started asserting himself a little on the offensive end, scoring on back-to-back trips down the floor.

We had our first Chris Paul alley oop, as he hit Julian Wright with the lob at 6:05 to give the Hornets a 41-39 lead.

(Kings up one, (9:05 2Q)

Hornets coach Byron Scott left backups Bobby Brown and Hilton Armstrong in for a few extra minutes to start the second quarter, giving Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor a little more of a break.

The Hornets moved the ball a little better and picked up the pace a couple of times, but still aren't moving at what you'd call a fast pace.

(Sacramento leads after one)

The Kings got a little momentum at the end of the quarter with good ball movement and finishing on some backdoor cuts to take the lead 27-25.

David West played the entire first quarter for the Hornets, and scored six points and had three rebounds. Tyreke Evans led Sacramento with six points.

(Peja comes in hot, 3:32 1Q)

Peja Stojakovic entered the game and hit his first jump shot at the 4:43 mark. It wasn't a 3-pointer, but it got him warmed up. He hit a three at 3:38, to give the Hornets the lead at 20-18. If the Hornets get that, that would be a huge boost.

(Sacramento up 14-10, 5:53 1Q)

It hasn't been great, but the Hornets are off to a better start tonight against Sacramento than the debacle that was the San Antonio game on Wednesday.

Four players have scored in the 14-10 deficit so far, with David West the guy with four points. That's a good sign, multiple scorers. Something that hurt this team last season and on Wednesday was getting little scoring help from anyone but Chris Paul, West and the center position.

All five of the Kings have scored so far.

Pregame

It wouldn't be the Big Easy without a party. The Southern University band played a short pregame set and during the introductions of the team.

Things started a little slow as far as the crowd, but just before tipoff, it looks to be a full house, even as possible bad weather is approaching the city.

...

Hornets forward Ike Diogu is out with a strained knee and Sean Marks will be out because of a sore neck. Rookie Marcus Thornton has been made inactive.

For Sacramento, Francisco Garcia is out after having surgery on his wrist and Kenny Thomas was diagnosed with flu-like symptoms and is out.